Rotary engine



Oct. i9, 1926.

l H. v. LEE

ROTARY ENGINE Filed August 16. 1924 4 Sheets-Sh-et 2 ma. 19, ma. momia H. V. LEE

ROTARY ENGINE Filed August 16, 1924 4 Sheets-Sht 4 Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERSCHEL v. LEE, or CBETOPA, KANSAS, AssIGNoR oF ONE-HALF 'ro F. J. CUNNING- HAM, or CHETOPA, KANSAS.V 1

' ROTARY ENGINE.

Application led August 16, 1924. Serial N0. 732,437.

The present invention relates to rotary engines, and aims to provide a novel and improved machine of that kind wherein ,liquid is used to provide the pistons for the chambers ofthe rotor, thereby reducing the number of parts and friction to a minimum.

As a more specific object, the invention aims to provide a rotaryl internal explosion engine of novel' and improved construction 'employing the generic idea of using liquid to form the pistons of the rotor chambers.

A further object is the provision of novel mechanism for operating the valves and energizing the spark plugs or igniters of the engine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention residesin the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and `claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

respective V'lines Fig. 1.

The invention vis illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a median diametrical section of an internal combustion engine embodying the improvements, portions being shown in elevation.

Figs. 2,- 3 and 4 are sections taken on the 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 of The engine includes a rotor 11 and a casing 12 in which the rotor is housed. The rotor 11 lcom rises the rim 13, preferabl of cylindrical form, partitions 14 extend" radially outward from the rim 13, and the side plates '15 and 18 extending beyond the rim. As shown-,there are live partitions 14 which, with the side plates, formgthe chambers A, B, C, D and E which are'open at ing supporting the inner end of the shaft. The I rotor is thus supported by the shaft 17 and journal member 20.

v The casing 12 comprises the side plates 21 and`22,'and the Irim- 23 which is. integral with the side plate21 as `shownthe side plate 22 being detachably secured to the rim 23, as at 24, for convenience in assenibling and separating the parts. The side plate 22 has a hub 25 mounted for rotation on an eccentric portion 26 with which the member'20 is provided, and the side plate 21 has a hub 27 mounted for rotation onaneccentiic portion 28 of a journal and bearin member 29. lThe shaft 17 is .journale through the member 29, while the side plate 21 is rotatable around the eccentric portion 28 of said member 29. Thel eccentric portions 26 and 28 of the journal members are concentric relatively to the' casing 12 and are eccentric relatively to the rotor, the rotor and casing being eccentric with reference to one another. `As shown, the eccentric portions 26 and 28 extend downwardly so that the rotor and rim of the casing are closest to one another at the top. The casing is free to rotate around the members 20 and 29, and thehubs 25 and 27 bear against the shown) so as to be non-rotatable, although the casing can rotate freely around said members.

Other than the contact between the hubs of the rotor. `and casing there are no' solid parts having frictional contact between the rotor and casing, so that pistons of solid material are entirely eliminated, thereby reducing friction and working parts to a l minimum. Instead, water 30 or other 1i uid is contained within theY casing and,`w en theengine is in operation, such liquid forms the 'pistons for the chambers of the rotor.

'The liquid, when the rotor is rotated at a .sufficiently `high speed, is thrown outward around and away from the axis of rotation by centrifugal force, thereby providing a. ring of liquid within the 'casing along the rim thereof into'which the partitions 14 and side plates 15 and 18 extend so that the liquid enters the chambers to 4form the pistons thereof. The depth of the liquid ring Will be substantially uniform owing to the :tact that .the centrifugal force Will overcome gravity `and will throw the liquid out- `wardly in ,all radial directions With equal force, so that the liquid 'is distributed uniformly around the axis ofrotation along the rim of the casing. The liquid ring will rotate with the rotor, and the casing being free to turn can also rotate with the vrotor and liquid ring, so that the rotor, liquid ring and casing can allrotate as a unit. However, the rotor and casing being'ec'centric will result in the inner periphery of the liquid ring andl rim 413 of the rotor being eccentric, the top of the rim being closer adjacent to the inner periphery of the liquid ring than the bottom of the rim 13, thus resulting in the spaces between the Iliquid ring and rim 13 or bottoms of the chambers decreasing in size when approaching the top and increasing in size when a proaching the bottom, as clearly apparent y reference to Fig. 3.

By using the liquid ring between the rotor and casing this will eliminate all Mechanical parts between the rotor and casing, as well as reducing the friction to a practicdlly negligible minimum as compared With tle friction between solid parts.

The rim `13, which forms the bottoms of' the rotor chambers, has the intake ports 31,

31", 31", 31l and 31a and the exhaust ports' 32, 32", 32", 32d and 32 opening int the respective chambers A, B, C, D and E, and the respective poppet valves 33, 33", 33, 33d and 33e and corresponding valves'34", 34", 340, 34d and 34 are seatable against'the rim 13 over the corresponding intake and exhaust ports. The rotor lhas passages 35 parallel with the axis of rotation extending through the side plate 184to ,the annular space between the side plate 18 of the rotor and the side plate 22 of the casing, and an exhaust pipe or conduit 36 extends through the eccentric 26. Thus, exhaust gases discharged through the exhaust ports will iiow through the passages 35 into the space between theside plates 18 and 22 and then thrpugh the pipe or conduit 36. The rotor is further provided with intake passages 38 leading from the intake ports` parallel with the axis of rotation to 'an annular s ace 37 with which the rotor is provided a jacent to the side plate 18, so that carbureted -air or other explosive gas delivered into the space 37 can flow through the lpassages 38y and intake ports when the intake valves are opened. In order to supply the explosive gas to the space 37, the member 2O has a chamber 39 into which the gas flows byway of the pipe o1" conduit 4() which is attached to the member 2O on theexterior of .the casing. The member 20has an opening 41 establishing communication between the chamber 39 and space 37 so that the carbureted air or other explosive gas is supplied to the intake passages 38. Y

The exhaust and intake valves have the respective inwardly extending stems 42 and 43, arranged radially of the structure, and the rotor has inwardly extending guides 441' slidable.

similarly arranged, the cams of each pair being diametrically opposite to one another. In order to time thev opening and closing ofthe valves, the sleeve 47 is rotated inthe -directioruof rotation of the rotor at a speed one-fourth faster than the speed offrotation of the rotor. Thus, the sleeve 47 isfformed .with a gear Wheel 50 1at that end adjacent to the member 20, and said gear Wheel meshes with a pinion51, that 1s rotatable on a pintle 52 carried by an arm 53 with which the mem- 'ber 20 is. provided. 'A pinion `54 is'integra! as a unit with the pinion 51, and is of smaller diameter, and meshes with a gear wheel 55 of larger diameter than the gear wh.eel.50. The gear wheel 55 is keyed or otherwise secured on the shaft 17 and'is of a diameter one-fourth larger than the diameter of the gear wheel 50, so that while the shaft- 17 makes a complete 'revolution, the sleeve 47 will have made one and one-fourth revolutions. 7 The fractional additional movement pf the sleeve 47 with reference to the rotor corresponds with tle numbervof rotor .cham bers, as will be apparent as the invention is more fully understood from the following around ,the sleeve 47, and providednvith :i

rim 58 within which are disposed the annular series of arcuate Contact segments 59", 59", 59` 59d and 59,e for the respective cham* bers. The rim58 has I.the binding posts 6() connected to the segments, said binding posts and segments heilig insulated from one another and from the metal parts of the engine, and the binding posts 6() 'are connected bvywires 61 with the corresponding spark plugs. rl`hus,one electrode of each plug is l connected tothe corresponding segment of -the commutator while the other electrode' is grounded to the metal parts of the engine,

in 4accordance with standard ignition practice. The timing sleeve 47 for the valves and ignitionhas the diametrically opposite The rod 68 extends through the member 20,

and said member has an arcuate slot 69 through which the arm 67 of the rod extends, so that said rod can be turned to change the angular position of the arm 67 and brush 66,- thereby enabling the sparks to be timed, for advancing and retarding the sparks. The rod 68 is insulated as not to be in electrical connection with the member 20 or other metal parts of the engine, such metal partsand rod 68 completing the electrical ignition circuit which is supplied by the high potential current from a suitable magneto or other source of energy (not shown).

The wires 61 and 64 are preferably arranged close Vadjacent, the sleeve 47, so as not to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, inasmuch as this would possibly interfere with other parts.

In startlng the engine, the rotor is rotated at a sufficiently high speed, so that the liquid in the casing assumes its ring form, vtheliquid. being rotated with the rotor. The

gaseous fuel is then admitted :through the pipe 40, and the ignition circuit is closed,

to start the power impulses. Therotor turns clock-wise as seen in Fig. 3 and counter clockwise as seen in Figs. 2 and y4, as indicated by the arrows. The engine operates under the four cycle principle, therebeingan explosion in each chamber of the rotor for each two revolutions.l In other words, for each chamber of the rotor one-half of a revolution is used for the intake of gas, the next one-half of a revolution is used for compression, the third one-half revolution used for the explosion or power impulse, and the fourth one-revolution usedforthe exhaust of the burnt; gas. By using the five chambers there are ve explosionsfor power impulses for every two revolutions of the rotor. As

shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, theintake valve.

33b4 of the chamber B and the exhaust valve 34 of the chamber E are opened by the corresponding cams 48 and 49, and the other valves are all closed. For convenience, the half-circle movements of the chambers will be termed strokes, in comparison with the strokes of ordinary reciprocating pistonengines'. With the parts as shown infFigs.

e' 2 3 and 4, the chamber A is starting its explo:

and the chamber E is completing its exhaust.- stroke.- The firing order of the rotor chambers, A, D, B, E and C.- In other words,

the explosions occur lin, the alternate chambers, and by the provision of an odd number of chambers, two revolutions of the rotor will include anexplosion Vin each chamber ofthe rotor.

plug-56ft energized'. Thus-the brush 63 contacts wlth the segment 59% connected to the spark plug 56a, and the'contact 65 engages r zo The chamber A, in-which l the gas has been compressed, has -its spark the brush 66 at the proper time to ignite` i the charge in the chamber A. The expansive force of the burning gas in the chamber- A has a ltendency to enlarge the space between the .water ring and rim 13 of the rotor, thereby lexerting a torque upon the rotor which will turn it, the space Abetween the -water ring and rim 13 becoming larger as the chamber A moves downwardly. There lis'of course a tendency for the burning gas to force the liquid out of the chamber A, but. this is resisted by thefact that the centrifugal force tends to maintain the liquid' ring l of uniform depth throughout, especially when the rotor and liquid ring revolve at a sufliciently high speed. This will assure against excessive distortion vof the inner periphery of the liquid ring under the force of the explosions, as well as under the compression of the gas in-the chambers. The power of the explosions is thus directed against the rotor for turning same. by the ..time the chamber A reaches the bot-v tom or lthe end of its explosion'stroke, the contact 65 willhave moved from the brush 66,' and the power of the explosion will have been spent in turning the rotor. the chamber A moves upwardly through its exhaust stroke, the corresponding cam 49 will have advanced sufticientlyfar ahead to 4open the exhaust valve 34a oft-he chamber A, in the same manner that the cam is opening the exhaustvalve of the chamber 'E as 12o sleeve- 47- 'rotates faster than the shaftV 17 v seen in Fig. 2, it being kept in mind that the and' rotor. The space 'in the lchamber A growing smaller during the exhaust stroke,-

will result in the products of combustion being forced out through the exhaust port 34".

When the chamber A has againreached the` top position, at the end of one revolution,

thecam 49 which lopened the exhaust valvey 34L will have moved on, so that said valve is released and closed by its spring. Then,

Now,

Then, as

been advanced suflicienty far to open the- `intake valve 33'* of the chamber A. The

camv 48 which so opens the valve 33a is' the one at the left in Fig. 3, said cam havin passed and opened the intake valve 'V?3fo the chamber E in the meantime. Thus, the valve` 33l1 being opened, will permit vthe gas to `be drawn into the space of the chamber A as said space increases in sizeduring the downward movement of said chamber A, -and the intake valve 33 is closed when the chamber reaches the end of its intake stroke, the corresponding cam 48 having moved past the valve 33a so that said valve is released and closed by its spring. Then, as the chamber A again moves upwardly through its compression stroke, both valves of said chamber remain closed, and the gas in the chamber is compressedowing to the reduction in size of the space between the water ring andrim 13 of the rotor.Y The chamber A then reaches the starting position of its explosion stroke, to complete thetwo revolutions, and the operation, with reference to the chamber A is then repeated as before. The same applies to each chamber of the rotor, and during the time that the chamber A. has made two revolutions and completed its explosion, exhaust, intake and compression strokes, each of the other chambers completed its four cycle operation in the same manner.

Referring to Fig.4 wherein the brush 66 engages the contact 65, and the brush 63 engages the segment 591of the spark plug 56a, the forward motion of the sleeve 47a with reference to the rotor will bring the brush 63 against the segment 5,9dwhile the brush 63 is moving away from the segment 59a,

thereby connecting the spark plug 561 of the chamber D with the timer, and when the chamber D reaches firing position (which is the position of the chamber A as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the contact 65 will engage the brush 66, with the brushv63 engaging the segment 59d. Then, as the brush 63 is removed from the segment 59", the brush 63 rides along the segment .59", and when `the chamber B reaches firing position, the

contact 65 4will engage the brush 66 thereby igniting the spark plug 56". Thus, as the rotor revolves, the 'brushes 63 and 63 move faster than the segments of the commutator,`

thereby connecting the spark plugs of alternate chambers in` the circuit in succession, so that the timer will close the spark plug circuits in proper order.

Referring toFig. 2,- showing the exhaust valves, the right hand cam 49 has opened the exhaust valve-34e of the chamber E. Now, as the sleeve 47 turns faster than the rotor, the left handcam 49 will open the exhaust valve 34 of the chamber C when the chamreoaeia her C moves upwardly. Then, the opposite cam 49, which previously opened the valve 34, will advance andv open the valve 34a of lthe chamber A as such chamber reaches and moves through its exhaust stroke. Thus, as the'camsl 49 move faster than the rotor,

they willl open the exhaust valves of the al- :ternate chambers in proper order.

Referring to Fig. 3 showing the intake valves, the right hand cam 48 has opened the intake valve 33h of the chamber B, Now,

when the chamber B is completing its intake stroke, the sleeve 47 rotating faster than the rotor, will result in the valve 33b being re- .leased and seated, and the opposite cam 48 opens the intake valve 33 of the chamber E by the time said chamber has reached and `is lmoving through its intake lstroke. Then follows the opening of the intake valve 33 ofthe chamber C, the opening of the intake valve of the chamber A and the opening of the intake valve of the chamber D in succession.

It will therefore be seen that the ltiming sleeve 47 is'rotated at a speed suiiciently faster than the speed of the rotor so as to open the intake and exhaust valves and close t-he circuits of the spark plugs or igniters in proper order and during the corresponding strokes of the chambers so that the engine will operate-as described.

By turning the rod 68 so as to move the brush 66 forwardly or rearwardly with reference to thedirection of rotation of the rotor, the sparks can be retarded or advanced, as will be apparent. As shown in Fig. 4, with the Abrush 66 in the position shown, the spark plugs will be energized just as they pass over the axis of rotation and start to move downwardly. However, the brush 66 can be moved forwardly and rearwardly so as -to change the timing of the sparks,in order to obtain maximum power and efficient operation of the engine.

By eliminatingfsolid reciprocating or oscillatory solid pistons, this will not only eliminate structural parts to simplify the construction, but will 'also eliminate the greater 'part of the friction which exists in engines using such pistons. Theliquid ring of the present engine will involve negligible friction, the rotor, liquid ring and casing all chambers -with intake and exhaust .ports for cach chamber, liquid Within the casing formrevolved a liquid ring providing pistons for said chambers, said rotor being mounted eccentrically Within the casing so that the liq uid pistons move into and out of the chainbers as the rotor revolves, rotor-carried valves normally closing said ports, rotorcarried igniters `for saidchambers, .and means operably connected to the rotor to rotate at a diii'erent speed than the rotor and controlling said valves and igniters to time the opening of the valves and operation of the igniters.

3. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a casing, a rotor mountedtherein and having an odd number of chambers with intake and exhaust ports for each chamber, liquid Within the casing forming, by centrifugal action, When the rotor is revolved a liquid ring providing pistons for said chambers, rotor-carried igniters for said chambers, rotor-carried, valves normally closing said ports, and means operably 'connected tothe rotor to rotate at a different speed than the rotor and controlling said valves and igniters to open the valves and operate the igniters of alternate chambers in timed relation.

' 4. A rotary internalv combustion engine comprising a casin a rotor mounted eccentrically therein an having open chambers at its circumference 4and intake and exhaust ports for each chamber, liquid. Within thev pistons move into and out of said chambers as the rotor revolves, rotor-carried valves normally closing said ports, rotor-carried igniters orsaid chambers, there being an odd number of chambers,and means operably connected to the rotor to rotate at a different speed than the rotor and controlling` said valves and igniters to open the valves andl operate the igniters of alternate chambers in .timed relation.

5. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a casing, a rotor mounted eccentrically therein and having chambers with intake and exhaust ports for each chamber,

liquid Within the casing, forming, vby centrifuga-l action, When the rotor is revolved a `liquid ring providing pistons' for said chainbers so that the liquid piston of each chamber moves into and partly out of the chamber during successive half-revolutions of the rotor, .rotor-carried intake and exhaust valves for each vchamber normally closing said ports, a rotor-carried ignitor for each of said chambers, and mechanism contr-olling the opening voi said valves and the op-Lv eration of the igniters arranged to provide a four-cycle operation as described, to provide in each chamber' the opening of the intake valve, compression, operation of the igniter and opening of the exhaust valve in four successive half-revolutions of the rotor.

comprising a rotor having chambers With intake and exhaust 'ports for each chamber, means for enlarging and reducing the spaces of said chambers as the rotor revolves, rotorcarried valves closing said ports, rotor-carried igniters for said chambers, and means operably connected to the rotor to rotate atea Idifferentv speed than the rotor and controlling .said valves'l and igniters to` time the openingof the valves and operation of the igniters.

7. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising a rotor having an' odd number of chambers with intake and exhaust ports for each chamber, means for enlarging and reducing the spaces` of said chambers as the -rotor revolves, rotor-carried valves closing said ports, -rotor-carried igniters for said chambers, and means operably connected to the rotor torotate yat a different speed than the rotor and controlling lsaid valves and igniters to open the valves and operate the igniters of alternate chambers in'timed rela; tion. I

8. An internal vcombustion engine comprising a rotor having chambers with intake and exhaust ports for each chamber, means 6. `A rotary internal combustion engine for enlarging vand, reducing the spaces of said chambers "as the rotor revolves,V rotorcarried valves closing said ports, rotor-carried igniters for said chambers, a rotary member concentric with the rotor and geared to the rotor to rotate at a di'erent speed than the rotor, said member having camslfor `opening-the -`valves in timed relation by the relative rotation of said member and rotor, a commutator having a part carried by the rotor connected to the igniters and a part carried bysaid member for connecting the igniters in an ignitioncircuit in timed relation, and an 'ignition timer connected to the commutator, part of said timer being carried by said member. i

9. A rotary internal combustion .engine comprising two non-rotatable members, a ishaft extendingthrough one ofv said members, a rotorsecured on said' shaft and having chambers and intake and exhaust ports for each chamber, means for enlarging and reducing the spaces of said chambers-as the rotor revolves, rotor-carried valves closing said ports,l rotor-carried 'igniters for said chambers, a sleeve rotatable on said shaft Within the rotor, gearing connecting said shaft and sleeve for rotating the sleeve at a different speed than the rotor, part of saidgearin'g being carried by the other member, said sleeve having means. for opening the valves in timed relationas the sleeve and rotor rotate relatively to one lanother, and a commutator and timer forsaid igniters having portions carried by the rotor and sleeve for closing the circuits ofA said igniters in timed relation. A

10. A rotary internal combustion engine comprising two supporting members having eccentric portions, a casing rotatable around said eccentric portions', 'a shaft passing through one or" said members eccentric relai tively tothe casing, a rotor in said casing secured to said shaft and having chambers and intake and exhaust ports for each chamgearing being carried by the other supporting member, a commutator including segments carried by the rotor 'and connected to the igniterS,A said commutator including brushes carried by the sleeve engaging the segments for connecting the igniters in the ignition circuit in timed relation, and an ignition timer including contacts carried by thesleeve andconnected to said brushes, said timer including an adjustable brush for the engagement of said contacts.

In testimony whereof l hereunto affix my signature.

v HERSCHEL V. LEE.

sleeve and shaft for rotating the sleeve at a dierent speed than the rotor, part of said 

